Everyone’s a Winner!

ALL 2015’S MUST GO!

403-742-3407& Detailing Service www.Stettlergm.comwww.stettlergm.com

Only 52015’s LEFT!

EvEEv

PLAY CONNECT TO WIN & SAVE EVEN MORE!!

Drive Into the New Year with Drive Into the New Year with an Unbelievable Deal!

No ReasonableOffer Refused!

Save Over 20% Off the MSRPonly at

CHEVROLET BUICK GMC

Regional

VOLUME 14 NUMBER 01 FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Ezra Auton’s passion for quadding gets him back on his feet

MOUSH SARA JOHNWEEKENDER REPORTER

Sunshine streamed through the living room window lighting up Ezra Auton’s face as he spoke about quadding and why a serious accident earlier this year can’t stop him from pursuing a sport he loves so dearly.

Now a Grade 9 student of William E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus, Auton recalls the first time he was introduced to the world of quads.

“I had a friend in Grade 5 here in Donalda and we used to spend a lot of time together, he owned snow mobiles and that was one of the first times I actually drove a vehi-cle myself,” said Auton. “I was pretty sure I wanted a snow mobile then, but my dad convinced me otherwise, so I went for a quad.”

Auton started earning some money with his brother Judah, by mow-ing lawns in summer and shovelling snow during the winter months.

Spending time online to get a quad within his budget was an uphill climb till he found one in Edmonton.

“I had made enough to purchase an entry-level quad, so I bought a 2010 GIO, which wasn’t exact-ly amazing, but it’s what I could afford at that time and it was a good quad in terms of learning how to fix it and drive

it,” continued Auton. “I spent a lot of time fixing it and learned a lot about the mechanics of all-ter-rain vehicles (ATVs) after I got it running pretty good, so I sold it and my next quad was a Raptor 350.”

Although it was his second quad, Auton felt it was too heavy for him.

He was more interested in racing quads.

“So I purchased some-thing that was better suited to my weight and own a Raptor 250 now,” said Auton. “I like the speed, and I like working on machines and it’s all a part of it, I drive it for a while and then have to tweak it to get it to run properly again.”

What drives Auton to quadding is the abili-ty to do tricks, such as cat walking, jumping or drifting.

“I have done quite a bit of fixing to the quad I currently own and I’m also giving it a few up-grades, such as nerf bars and speedometer,” said Auton. “At one point I found that the frame was cracked so I had to get it welded.”

With his dad’s help, Auton was able to take it all apart right down to the frame.

“My dad’s firefight-er friend is a welder, so he fixed it for me and I helped him with some work on his house for a trade,” said Auton.

When the quad acci-

dent happened during the May long weekend earlier this year, Auton and his family was at a friend’s place.

“We were trying some new side by sides they had got and I got sliding around a turn when it flipped over on its side, and my arm was pinned between the roll cage and the road,” described Auton. “The orthopaedic surgeon told me it was as if I had put my arm in a meat grinder!”

After skin graft and four surgeries, besides weeks of healing, Auton was back on his feet in September, ready for the new academic year.

Auton had to wear a wound vac for two weeks, which cleaned the wound and helped tissue to grow there.

On days when they changed the dressing, morphine was adminis-tered to him because of the excruciating pain he felt.

“I have pretty good use of my arm now, but I won’t ever have full range again although its pretty close,” said Auton. “I have one, maybe two surgeries coming up in the new year, which means another cast and more work afterwards on mobility but the scar will be much smaller … I don’t really like how it looks like right now, but I’m sure glad that I still have my arm!”

Auton’s mum Cindy

has mixed feelings about his getting back on the quad.

“I think I’ll always have mixed feelings about him riding, but it’s pretty cool that he got back on and didn’t let the acci-dent change his dreams and what he is passion-ate about, but I’m always going to be nervous about the speed,” said Cindy. “I did have a few months in the middle when he was getting back to real life

when I didn’t recognize him, but Ezra has always been a go getter and not really afraid of anything, though he is very cau-tious now, which is good but surprises me.”

Auton wants to own a Yamaha dealership someday, or be out in the fields being a farmer, a theme that connects him to his passion, working with his hands.

“It took me a while to ride again, I was nervous

but I’m good now, I’m back to riding and doing all the stuff I did before, but I have to figure out what my arm can and can’t do from time to time,” reflected Auton. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to play vol-leyball this year because when I over-hand served my arm wouldn’t do what I needed it to do, but gradually I’ve worked at it and had a pretty good year actually.”

Moush Sara John/Weekender reporter

After a major quad riding accident, Grade 9 student of William E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus, Ezra Auton is back on his feet and wishes to keep intact his passion for quadding.

2 THE WEEKENDER FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

SALE DATESPhone (403) 742-2368Regular Sales ~ Tuesdays - 9 a.m.

website: www.stettlerauction.ab.ca

Box 1238, Stettler, AB

Stettler Auction Mart (1990) Ltd.

Lic. #00354

Auctioneers: Allen McMillan Dick Creasey Greg JohnsonScott Douglas Terry Silbernagel

Office Administrator: Lona Benjamin

Sales Reps: Greg Hayden - 403-740-9610; Jim Abel - 403-740-9609;

Brad Lohr - 780-679-5500; Dick Creasey - 403-740-9434

Holiday office hours

Open: Wednesday, Dec. 23 & Wednesday, Dec. 30

Tuesday, January 5

FIRST REGULAR CATTLE SALE OF 2016Tuesday, January 12

REGULAR CATTLE SALEHEARTLAND BUSINESS PARK -

Highway #12 - east Stettler

NOW SELLING

Commercial Properties - Highway Frontage - Fully Serviced - The work is done!

Smaller lots available. Price incentives to early buyers.Central Alberta’s gateway to the east

Call Jim or Greg - 742-2368 for full details!

Panels, wind fence, feeders, mineral, salt for sale.

Can pre-order before year end. Samples for viewing.

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON!For all your needs phone 403-742-2368

Note: Online bidding and viewing

each sale at 11 a.m.

see stettlerauction.ab.ca

Stett

ler Auction Mart

Since 1953

4825 50 St, Stettler, AB T0C 2L2

Heartland Medical

Clinicis pleased to welcome

Dr. Kimberly Chapman

to our clinic as of January 18, 2016.

Dr. Chapman will be taking new patients. For more information, or to book an appointment,

please call: 403-742-4011.

Taking charge of saving in your 40sSuddenly, you realize you’re in your 40s, and per-

haps you don’t have the savings you’d like to have by this point in life. It’s time to take action, and there’s still time. The key is to focus your efforts in three key areas: build a plan, repay debt and maxi-mize savings. By tackling these areas, you can start making steady progress towards your goals, one manageable step at a time.

Build a plan: A financial plan identifies specific goals and the strategies to meet them, with a clear-ly marked path leading from where you are now to where you want to be. And it can help to answer the questions that keep many of us up at night: What can I afford today? When can I retire? Will I run out of money? Challenges may come along – an illness, a job loss, a divorce – but with a financial plan you’ll be in a better position to leap the hurdle and get back on course.

Repay debt: Having a debt repayment plan is an essential component of any financial plan. Setting a schedule can help you eliminate all debt by the time you retire. That’s important because in retire-ment, on a fixed income, it can be more difficult to manage the extra expense of interest and of paying down debt. There’s also the risk that interest rates may rise in the future, adding to the cost of carrying debt.

Consider consolidating your loans into one ac-count with a lower interest rate to reduce the cost

of debt. Make a habit of putting a specific monthly amount towards debt. Reduce unnecessary expens-es and pay with cash to avoid adding to debt. If you have multiple debts, pay down those with the high-est interest rate first.

Need extra motivation? As soon as you’re debt free and don’t have to make any more principal or inter-est payments, you will have more money available to add to your savings.

Maximize savings: You may have to work harder at building your savings but you still have time on your side. Work with your advisor to answer ques-tions such as: How much have you saved so far? How much income do you expect to receive in re-tirement from government and workplace pension plans? How much income do you need to sustain your lifestyle throughout retirement?

Next, to help make saving a priority, set specific saving goals – as much as you can afford – and check in every year to see the progress you’ve made and to fine-tune your plan if necessary. It’s also critical to maintain a long-term perspective, since you may have 20 years or more of saving and investing ahead of you before you retire.

Use these timeless investing principals: 1) Always diversify, 2) Be rational, not emotional, 3) Stay in-vested 4) Focus on the long term and 5) Learn to turn market volatility to your advantage. Learn from these suggestions and you will become older, wiser and richer.

Work with an advisor: Studies have shown that those who work with a financial advisor are more successful in reaching their goals.

Tips to help increase insurance literacyFROM CNW

What does my home in-surance policy cover/not cover? If I get into a colli-sion tomorrow, what kind of coverage can I expect under my auto insurance policy? Does the distance I travel affect my auto in-surance premium? If my business is home-based, do I need special cover-age? These are only a few of the many questions to consider when buying or renewing insurance.

Insurance Bureau of

Canada (IBC) is encour-aging Canadians to invest a little time to increase their insurance literacy so they better understand their home, car and busi-ness insurance policies.

“Financial literacy helps to empower Canadians with the knowledge, skills and confi dence they need to make responsi-ble fi nancial decisions,” said Bill Adams, Vice-President, Western and Pacific, IBC. “Educated consumers make smarter

decisions. When it comes to protecting your family and belongings, insurance literacy is one of the best forms of consumer pro-tection.”

To help increase Canadians’ insurance lit-eracy, IBC offers the fol-lowing top 10 tips:

1 Speak to an insurance representative about your specifi c insurance needs.

2 Shop around to fi nd the right policy to fi t your unique situation.

3 Review your policy at least once a year.

4 Understand your pol-icy.

5 Ask questions about your policy.

6 Look for ways to lower

your premiums.• Some insurers offer

discounts if you take steps to reduce risk. Ask your insurance representative about what you can do to lower your premiums.

7 Take measures to pro-tect your home and car and reduce avoidable ac-cidents.

8 Check online resources like ibc.ca to learn more about insurance.

9 Pass along these tips to your friends, family and neighbours.

10 For further infor-mation on home, auto and business insurance, contact IBC’s Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC.

SLAUGHTER CATTLE:D1-D2 Cows: 95.00 to 110.00 D3 Cows: 85.00 to 95.00Bulls NONE Feeder Bulls: NONEFeeder Cows: 105.00 to 112.50 Heiferettes: NONEFEEDER CATTLE:Steers Heifers 1000 plus lbs.: 1000 plus lbs.: 900 to 1000 lbs.: 900 to 1000 lbs.: 800 to 900 lbs.: 800 to 900 lbs.: 700 to 800 lbs.: 700 to 800 lbs.: 600 to 700 lbs.: 600 to 700 lbs.: 500 to 600 lbs.: 500 to 600 lbs.: 400 to 500 lbs.: 400 to 500 lbs.: 300 to 400 lbs.: 300 to 400 lbs.: OFF TYPES: OFF TYPES:

Stettler Auction Mart (1990) Ltd.

LIVESTOCKMARKET REPORT

Tuesday, December 22TOTAL – 135

The good news – futures are trending higher forthe past three days. With higher futures and lower Canadian dollar we can all "hope" for a stronger

market in the New Year. Next sale - Tuesday, Jan. 5/16.

TOOFEW

FEEDERSTO

QUOTE

TOOFEW

FEEDERSTO

QUOTE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 THE WEEKENDER 3

Bob Halseth *25 yrs experience*

403-883-2205Cell 403-740-9469

New Homes, Renovations, Farm Buildings, Windows, Siding, Shingles, Hardwood and Tiles

ADVERTISING DEADLINEFRIDAY AT 5 P.M.

weekenderweekenderRegional

Regional

Regionnnl

Regional

Regional

Regional INDEPENDENT

STETTLERTHE

Phone 403-742-2395 • Fax: 403-742-8050

How to shorten the duration of a coldFew things can be as uncom-

fortable as the common cold. In their book “Common Cold,” authors Olaf Weber and Ronald Eccles say the common cold has been around since the ancient times. More than 200 virus strains can contribute to colds, but the rhinovirus is the most common. Colds produce a bevy of symptoms, includ-ing runny nose, congestion and sore throat, so it should come as no surprise that sufferers want to fi nd relief fast.

Colds typically last for a week or more. While there’s no cure for the common cold, according to The Mayo Clinic, there are some remedies that can help cold sufferers feel better more quickly.

• Rest: One of the best things to do when you have a cold is to get adequate rest. Your body’s immune system is work-ing overtime to combat the cold virus, and restricting activity can help it direct efforts where they’re needed most. Keep away from strenuous activities, and spend more time relaxing or sleeping to let your body do its job.

• Hydration: Consuming plenty of clear fl uids can re-duce congestion and ensure that you do not get dehydrated. Plus, warm beverages can be soothing to an irritated throat. Avoid coffee, caffeinated sodas and alcohol, which can exacer-bate dehydration.

• Saline rinses: Intra-nasal saline sprays, neti pots and sim-ilar products can help loosen mucus that is clogging the nose and sinus cavities, allowing it to fl ow out. This makes blow-ing your nose more effective and may help prevent post-na-sal drip. Avoid prolonged use of medicated decongestant sprays. They may work well, but they can cause rebound congestion that’s worse than the original stuffi ness.

• Vitamin C: Vitamin C will not prevent colds, but it could help in other ways. Taking vita-min C before the onset of cold symptoms may shorten the du-ration of symptoms. Vitamin C also may provide benefi ts for people at high risk of colds due to frequent exposure, offers The Mayo Clinic.

• Soup and tea: Soup is an

easy-to-digest meal that pro-vides many of the necessary remedies for a cold, includ-ing warm broth to hydrate and soothe, antioxidant-rich vege-tables and protein to help fuel the body’s recovery process. In 2000, Dr. Stephen Rennard of the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha actually tested if chicken soup clinically makes people with colds feel better. He found that chicken soup inhibited neutrophils, immune cells that cause congestion. Decaffeinated tea also may help you stay hydrated and re-lieve many cold symptoms.

• Reinfection: Use cleaning products that are effective at killing viruses around the house to prevent reinfection and cold relapses. Also, avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth between hand-wash-ings to keep germs at bay.

Colds can be a nuisance. Most medicines will help relieve symptoms but cannot make colds go away faster. Natural remedies can help the body’s immune system work at its best and lessen the severity of a cold.

Decrease mucus production and subsequent sore throatsWhen allergies, colds or

the fl u strike, the resulting symptoms can be unpleas-ant. Watery eyes, sneezing, aches, pains, and lethargy are common. Two addi-tional symptoms common to respiratory illnesses in-clude excess mucus pro-duction and sore throat.

Mucus is a vital com-ponent of bodily health. The American Academy of Otolaryngology says glands in the nose and throat continually pro-duce thin mucus to moist-en and clean respiratory passageways. This mucus traps foreign matter and can help combat infection. When viruses or bacteria irritate parts of the nose and throat, excess mucus may be produced as the immune system attempts to retaliate. This mucus may thicken and become more acidic. Extra mucus can produce its own side effects, including further irritation. According to

New York-Presbyterian Hospital, in many cases, excess mucus production can lead to post-nasal drip and subsequent sore throats.

People often mistake post-nasal drip and re-lated sore throat as sep-arate medical conditions. But each can be traced to whichever illness or irri-tant (such as dry air or chemical exposure) is trig-gering the body’s mucus response. Reducing the amount of mucus pooling in the back of the throat can help a person feel bet-ter more quickly and can be used in conjunction with medical advice.

• Limit foods that may increase mucus pro-duction. Dairy products, wheat, soy, bananas, sugar, and preservatives may contribute to mucus pro-duction, according to The University of Maryland Medical Center.

• Drink peppermint

or regular mint tea. The natural menthol in these herbs can help thin mucus and loosen it up for more productive coughs.

• Increase consumption of mucus-fi ghting foods

and beverages. Mustard, lemon, garlic, and anti-in-fl ammatory oils found in many nuts may help re-duce swelling in the throat and nose and tame mucus production.

• Drink plenty of fl uids. Clear fl uids, such as water, tea and broth, can also thin out mucus, making it fl ow more easily down the throat.

• Rely on salt solutions. Simple nasal saline rinses or gargling with salt water can alleviate irritation and help reduce some of the mucus, too. Remember to use cooled-down boiled tap water or distilled, ster-ile water for nasal rins-es to prevent the chance of water contamination, which can lead to serious

illness.• Consider medication.

When natural remedies are exhausted, prescrip-tion or over-the counter products may provide re-lief. Decongestants can dry up nasal secretions, while antibiotics may be needed if an infection is bacterial in nature.

Always consult with a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis of mucus issues and sore throat causes. He or she may suggest one of the tips above or a combi-nation of therapies.

HERB’S SKATESHARPENING

HERB IS BACKLOCATED AT THE NORTH END OF THE

PETRO CANADA GAS STATION BUILDING 4201-38 STREET (HIGHWAY 12 EAST)

HOURS OF OPERATIONMONDAY – FRIDAY 8:30 – 5:30

SATURDAY 10:00 – 4:00PHONE 403-741-8247

4 THE WEEKENDER FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

How to foster a love of reading in childrenToday’s parents know that it’s not always easy to instill

a love of reading in children. Whether they are watching television, dabbling with their smartphones, toying with their tablets or engaging in social media, youngsters now have more distractions at their disposal than ever before. So it’s no surprise that many youngsters may not be too enthusiastic about abandoning their gadgets in

exchange for curling up with a good book.But instilling a love of reading in kids early on can pay

a lifetime of dividends. Children learn at a much faster pace during their fi rst six years than at any other time in their lives, and the right kind of stimulation during these years can provide the foundation for future learning. In addition, reading at an early age can inspire a child’s creativity and imagination. Though many parents can recognize these benefi ts, that recognition does not make it easier to get kids to embrace reading. No two kids are alike, so parents might need to employ different strate-gies to get each of their kids to embrace reading. But the following are a handful of ways parents can foster a love of reading in their youngsters.

* Embrace their hobbies. When encouraging kids to read, parents may fi nd it easier to get them to pick up a book if that book’s subject matter pertains to a favorite hobby or something a youngster has expressed interest in. A seven-year-old boy with a passion for baseball will likely be more inclined to read an age-appropriate novel about America’s pastime than he will a book about fi sh-ing. Use youngsters’ enthusiasm about a given hobby or interest to lay the foundation for a love of reading.

* Don’t limit reading to books. Books are not the only reading materials that can foster a love of reading in kids. Local newspapers and magazines have sparked

many kids’ initial foray into reading, and such source materials can be just as inspiring as novels or short stories. Magazines made for youngsters give kids some-thing they can start and fi nish reading in the same day. Young boys might want to read the sports page in the daily newspaper or visit a favorite team’s website to learn all about last night’s game, while young girls might be more inclined to read the arts and entertainment sections. Parents should encourage such exploration, even if it means leaving novels on the bookshelf for the time being.

* Read to youngsters. Another way to foster a love of reading in youngsters is to read to them every day. Many young kids just learning to read may be discouraged if their reading skills aren’t progressing rapidly. Reading to kids every day can inspire them to work harder at reading so they can be just as good at reading as Mom and Dad.

* Discuss reading materials with your children. Many people enjoy talking about books they have read as much as they enjoy reading the books, and kids are no different. Parents who want their youngsters to embrace reading can initiate discussions about what their kids are reading, discussing the plot of novels or the details of newspaper or magazine articles kids read. Ask them what they like and dislike about a book or ask for a recap of a story they read in the newspaper or an article they read in a magazine.

* Extend the reading experience. After they have fi nished a novel, adults often fi nd it enjoyable to watch fi lms based on that novel. Doing so extends the reading experience and gives men and women a chance to see if their interpretations of a given story were similar or dif-ferent from someone else’s. Kids enjoy such extensions as well, so reward kids by taking them to the movies to see the fi lm version of a favorite book or to a museum that’s displaying an exhibit that’s relevant to a book a youngster just read.

Though their youngsters may have many distractions at their disposal, there are still many ways for parents to foster a love of reading in their children.

P & H ElevatorChristmasParty

Saturday, Jan. 9, 6 p.m.at the Hub

(upstairs in the Stettler Recreation Centre)

For catering purposes, call Joyce at 403-742-3470 to reserve your tickets

or email stettlergrainelevator@gmail.com$25.00 per person

Everyone welcome, bring a friendDoor Prizes! Entertainment!

Losing your

Grip?TTake this test! A Are your dentures?Loose?Cracked on Worn?Over 5 years old?Sore Gums?Missed teeth?In your pocket?Call for your

consultation today!

(403) 742-2351

5021 - 50 Street Stettler, ABemail: info@bairddentureclinic.comYour Smile is our Reward

A book you wouldn’t want to miss“I forgive you.”Are there any three more

powerful words? Can “I love you” – also used for countertops, couches, or coats – bestow such mercy? I don’t think so.

“I forgive you.” In release and relief, those words put things back on track - although, in the new book “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry” by Fredrik Backman, the transgres-sions hardly need abso-lution.

Every grandmother’s house smells a little dif-ferent.

Some smell like cookies or old magazines, soup or stale perfume. But seven-year-old Elsa’s granny’s fl at – the whole build-ing, in fact - smelled like coffee, cigarettes, a “very large animal of some sort,” and Granny.

For her entire life, Granny was the only friend Elsa had. Granny played games with Elsa, gave her rides in Renault (the car Granny said she won in a poker game), told Elsa stories (Granny loved stories!) and she

taught Elsa how to get to the Land-of-Almost-Awake, the magic king-dom of Miamas, and a troubled knight named Wolfheart. Granny had a lot of superpowers, one of which was always being on Elsa’s side.

And that, perhaps, was why she never mentioned the word “cancer” to Elsa. She didn’t want Elsa to know, or to mourn. That was probably why Granny never said goodbye be-fore leaving Elsa with an assignment befi tting a knight of Miamas.

The assignment was a treasure hunt (Granny

loved treasure hunts!), with clues and messages for people in their build-ing: Britt-Marie, who was a “nag-bag,” and her hus-band, Kent; the boy who danced, and his mother; Maud, who fi xed every-thing with cookies, and Lennart; Al, who drove Taxi. The fi rst clue took Elsa to the door of a vi-cious dog that lived down-stairs. If the dog didn’t kill her, surely the second delivery would: it was an apology for The Monster, who lived next to the dog.

As Elsa made the de-liveries, three more clues appeared until every-thing – including Granny’s not-so-goodbye - began to make sense. And so did the knowledge that “It’s possible to love your grandmother for years and years without really knowing anything about her.”

Did you ever read a novel that was so captivating that when it was over, you felt a little adrift? That’s how I was when I fi nished “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry.”

If you can remember

that time in your life when magic was real, grown-ups were mysteries, and you were about to learn the truth about both, then you’re halfway to under-standing what makes au-thor Fredrik Backman’s book so appealing: though she’s “insanely” preco-cious, Elsa still relies on a magic-and-pretend life that’s whisked away so quickly, it’s breathtaking. And yet, that having-to-grow-up-fast time is mercifully aborted by the posthumous wishes of the kind of grandmother you’ll wish you had, the one who knows there’s no need to hurry childhood’s exit.

Bring tissues when you start “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry,” but bring your fun-nybone, too. It’s that kind of book – one that, if you miss it, you’ll never for-give yourself.

“My Grandmother asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry” by Fredrik Backmanc.2015, Atria $25.00 / higher in Canada 372 pages

TERRISCHLICHENMEYER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 THE WEEKENDER 5

AG DIRECTORY Peter Boys CAFA

Boys Financial ServicesWorking to protect my client’s

health, wealth & lifestyles.4910A - 51 Street, Stettler

Toll Free: 1-866-219-7366 Ph: 403-742-6450

QualifyingMember

MDRT®

Fully equipped machine shop

for all your agriculture needs.

403-742-8822

FINANCIAL MACHINE SHOPS

Festival of LightsFestival of Lights

STETTLER’SSTETTLER’S

1818ththANNUALANNUAL

The entire Festival committee would like to thank the people of

Stettler and surrounding communities and colonies for their support

of the Festival of Lights. It is through your generosity that our hospital

continues to meet its goals to meet our needs.

With over 1,400 people in attendance and the support of more than

200 donors, we raised $81,000 for our hospital this year, specifi cally

for the operating room upgrades.  We are thrilled and so appreciative

of this support. A complete list of our donors is available at www.

stettlerhealthfoundation.com  and on our Facebook page..

We are already planning for next year! Thank you once again

for your support.

The 2015 Festival committee:

Barbara-Lynn Goodwin, Keri Taschuk, Amy Roberts, Chelsey VanLanduyt,

Morgan Hiller, Christine Verhoeven, Allison Baird, Pat Standage,

Suzanne Bond, MaryJane Jackson, Kelly Greenwood and Susan Peterson.

ThankThankYou!You!

www.stettlerhealthfoundation.com

Best buys for the new yearSmart shopping involves mak-

ing budget-friendly purchases. Never paying full price is a man-tra shoppers can follow to help keep their fi nances in check.

In addition to coupons and other discounts, shoppers can usually score deals based on which time of year they shop for particular items. Each year, var-ious consumer resources offer advice on the best time to buy certain items.

The beginning of the year is often an ideal time to purchase certain items. Consumers who take advantage of sales offered at the start of the new year can save substantial amounts of money. Now that the holiday season has passed, consumers can begin to fi nd deals on items for themselves.

• Clothing: Post-Christmas sales are booming, and stores are looking to sell what’s left of their inventories to make room for spring and summer selec-tions. Even though the weath-er outside is still cold, sweat-ers, pants, coats, and more are usually available at a discount come January. It may take some digging through the racks, but there’s an excellent chance to discover some great items.

• Boats: Wintertime is boat show season, but it’s also the offseason for boaters who live

in cooler climates. These factors combine to make it easier and less expensive to fi nd a new boat. According to boat-buying retailer Boatline, consumers can probably get one of last year’s models at a good price.

• Air conditioners: If the warm-weather season was par-ticularly steamy this past year, it might be time to revamp the HVAC system or invest in some new portable units. Bankrate of-fers that the fi rst few months of the year are prime times to shop for air conditioners. While you may not get the latest model, it’s likely you can fi nd a reliable unit at below-market cost.

• Theater tickets: January and February are not especially busy seasons for theaters, which means there will be greater opportunity to get discounted seats for many popular shows.

• Linens and bedding: John Wannamaker was a retail en-trepreneur and had a few de-partment stores in New York and Philadelphia. Wannamakers held the fi rst “white sale” in 1878, and since then many stores have continued the tradition. January is a great month to buy towels, sheets, bedspreads, and more at a discount.

• Motorcycles: Riding a mo-torcycle is a fair-weather hobby, and retailers are aware of this.

The easy riders of tomorrow might be able to fi nd great deals today.

• Video games: Those who ha-ven’t purchased their fi ll of video games for the holidays can ben-efi t from post-holiday drops in price.

• Furniture: Many furniture

manufacturers begin to churn out new inventory in February, so last season’s items will need to move quickly. Shoppers can often negotiate some good deals now and upgrade their homes’ decor.

• Wedding-related services: Couples who don’t mind the

chilly weather can enjoy steep savings by hosting their wed-dings in January. Spring and summer are by far the more popular seasons to tie the knot, but reception halls, musical acts, fl orists, and other vendors may heavily discount their services in winter.

How to enjoy a more eco-friendly winterWinter weather requires all types of

modifi cations, including donning addi-tional layers of clothing or turning the thermostat up a few ticks. But such ad-justments can have an adverse impact on the environment, including increasing a person’s carbon footprint and energy consumption.

Just because temperatures are dropping and snow is falling does not mean it’s alright to ignore eco-friendly practices to conserve energy. The following are a handful of ways to enjoy an eco-friendly winter.

• Install a programmable thermostat. The United States Department of Energy estimates that consumers can save 10 percent on their heating bills by rolling back their thermostat 10 to 15 percent over an eight-hour period. Program your thermostat to keep the heat low while you’re at work or away from home. The latest digital thermostats are both us-er-friendly and visually appealing when hung on the wall.

• Replace furnace fi lters regularly. When warm air has to work harder to

push through dirty fi lters, the result is an ineffi cient system that consumes more energy. Be sure to check the condition of furnace fi lters on a regular basis and clean all input registers and output vents around the house.

• Use residual heat to your advantage. Open the bathroom door after taking a steamy shower and let that warm, moist air make its way to other rooms in the house. After cooking or baking is done, turn off the oven but leave the door open to warm the kitchen and dining area without adjusting the home ther-mostat. Keep draperies and blinds on south- and west-facing windows wide open during the day to maximize sun-light and warmth.

• Seal drafts and close off seldom-used rooms. Sealing drafty windows and doors can save substantial amounts of money. An old towel placed in the crack under the door can alleviate drafts as well. Close doors of rooms that aren’t used, and close the heating/cooling vents in those spaces so the heat is maximized and circulated where it’s needed.

6 THE WEEKENDER FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Employment#700 - #920

Caregivers/Aides................710Clerical ..............................720Computer Personnel ..........730Dental ................................740Estheticians........................750Hair Stylists ........................760 Janitorial ............................770Legal ..................................780Medical ..............................790Oilfield ................................800Professionals......................810Restaurant/Hotel ................820Sales & Distributors ..........830Teachers/Tutors..................840Trades ................................850Truckers/Drivers ................860Business Opportunities......870Miscellaneous ....................880Volunteers Wanted ............890Positions Wanted ..............895Employment Training ........900Career Planning ................920

Arts & Crafts Shows ..................50Class Registrations....................51Coming Events ..........................52Lost ............................................54Found ........................................56Companions ..............................58Personals...................................60Bingos........................................64Fitness & Sports ........................66Happy Ads .................................70

What’s Happening#50 - # 70

ComingEvents 52

GET MORE COVERAGE

WITH YOUR AD

JUST ASK FOR THE CLASSIFIED

N.E. BUY

• Ponoka News• Stettler Independent• Bashaw Star• Castor Advance• Weekender• Lacombe Express• Pipestone Flyer

Starting at 25 words for $53.55

Call toll free 1-877-223-3311

or Local 403-309-3300

Red WillowAgricultural

Society Annual General MeetingTuesday, January

5, 2015.Red Willow Community Hall

6:30 p.m.Potluck Supper

7:30 p.m. Annual General Meeting.

Everyone in thecommunity, hamlet,

surrounding area, and former community

members are welcome and encouraged to attend, meet your

neighbors, visit anddiscuss the future of the

Ag Society, Hall and Ball Park/

Campground.

Lost 54$5000 REWARD

leading up to or for the nding of 14 missing

simmental cows and 13 calves. Cows have a brand of TLX on the left rib and also possibly a brand of

PG (‘G’ is backwards) on the left rib. Calves are probably unbranded. Went missing

in Alliance/Sedgewick area. Phone 780-386-3745

or 780-888-1258.

Personals 60IS someone’s drinking causing you problems? AL-ANON 403-346-0320

Restaurant/Hotel 820CAMERON Bay Holdings Inc. o/a McDonalds’s in Ponoka and Red Deer (Gasoline Alley East and West) is now hiring full time and part time Food Service Supervisors. Wages are between $13.95 to $16.00 per hour,depending upon experi-ence and quali cations. Candidates must be able to work a variety of shifts and have 3 to 5 years pre-vious experience. Must be able to supervisor up to 20 crew. Part-time applica-tions will be accepted fromCanadians and PermanentResidents. Apply in person4419 Hwy 2A, Ponoka,37479 Hwy 2, Red Deer,and 37428 Hwy 2, Red Deer or email resume tocbay22@telus.net or fax to403-783-4251.

Buy & Sell#1500 - #1990

Aircraft ..............................1510Antiques & Art ..................1520Auctions ............................1530Bicycles ............................1540Building Supplies ..............1550Business Machines ..........1560Cameras & Accessories ..1570Children’s Items ................1580Clothing ............................1590Computers ........................1600Concert & Event Tickets ..1610Equipment - Misc. ............1620Equipment - Heavy ..........1630Tools ................................1640Farmers’ Market &Food Basket......................1650Firewood ..........................1660Lumber ............................1670Garden Supplies ..............1680Lawn Tractors ..................1690Health, Dietary, Beauty ....1700Household Appliances......1710Household Furnishings ....1720TV’s, Stereos, VCR’s ........1730Hot Tubs & Accessories ..1740Jewellery ..........................1750Kid’s Deals........................1755Misc. For Sale ..................1760Musical Instruments..........1770Music Lessons..................1780Piano & Organs ................1790Office Supplies ................1800Pets & Supplies ................1810Pet Services ....................1820Cats ..................................1830Dogs ................................1840Sports Cards ....................1850Sporting Goods ................1860Collectors’ Items ..............1870Swap, Barter & Trade ......1880Travel Packages ..............1900Wedding Supplies ............1910Recycled Products............1920Wanted to Buy ..................1930Items to Give Away ..........1940

Auctions 1530SEASONS

GREETINGS BIG STRAPPER

AUCTIONS at The Moose Hall,

2 miles south of Ponoka on Hwy. 2A.

Resuming weekly sales Wed. Jan. 13, 2016.

Antique sale 1st. Sun. of Month

Feb. 7, @ 1 pm.

TO BOOK YOUR SALE CALL 403-782-5693 or

403-304-4791 Check website for full listingswww.bigstrapperauctions.net

Agricultural#2000 - #2290

Farm Equipment ..............2010Haying Equipment ............2020Tractors ............................2030Combines & Headers ......2040Fertilizer Equipment..........2050Misc. Farm Machinery ......2060Equipment Wanted ..........2070Farm Custom Work ..........2080Farm Auctions ..................2090Livestock ..........................2100Livestock - Exotic..............2110Sheep ..............................2120Poultry ..............................2130Horses ..............................2140Horse Boarding ................2150Riding Supplies ................2160Horse/Stock Trailers ........2170Pasture Wanted ................2180Grain, Feed, Hay ..............2190Seed Grain ......................2200Seeding & Tillage ............2210

Livestock 2100 BRED heifers, Blacks & Sim X, calving Mar. 20;

403-843-6463

Farm CustomWork 2080

Houses/Duplexes 3020

BEAUTIFUL cottage $700/mo., plus utils., in

Halkirk, AB. on large lot, 2 bdrms, newly reno’d

780-583-2380

Public Notice#6000

Public Notices ..................6010Special Features ..............6050

1477834 ALBERTA LTD.DAN 403-821-0502 | 403-854-8317

My family and I run a custom work operation based out of the Coronation area. All of our equipment can be loaded and transported to your eld. We operate late model reliable equipment allowing us to do fast and e cient work.

• Silage Baling & Wrapping Combo• Round & Square Bale Hauling• Bale Stacking• Corral Cleaning• Fencing Construction & Removal• Welded Steel Panels & Gates

CUSTOM HAULING & CUSTOM HAULING & FIELD OPERATIONSFIELD OPERATIONS

CUSTOM WORK COMPANYCUSTOM WORK COMPANY

Business Services#1000 - #1430

HealthCare 1210

NEW MEDCOMBEWALKIN HOURS:

EFFECTIVE: Monday, January 4, 2016

Mon. - Thur.: 9 am - 8 pmFriday: 9 am - 4 pm

Closed for Lunch 12 -1 pmClosed: Saturday, Sunday

and ALL STAT Holidays(403-782-1408)

For Rent#3000 - #3200

RE

CY

CLE

Y

OU

R P

AP

ER

!

Whatever You’reSelling...

We Have ThePaper You Need!

CLASSIFIEDS1-877-223-3311

HOW can you make your phone ring and make some quick cash?Place your ad here . . .Phone 1-877-223-3311

1-877-223-3311CLASSIFIEDS

Celebrating the birth of your child? Share your happy news with family & friends with a specialannouncement in the Classifieds “Announcement”section.

Welcome Home!

CALL1-877-223-3311CLASSIFIEDSHOT-LINE

WHATEVER YOU’RESELLING...

WE HAVE THE PAPERYOU NEED!

A Star MakesYour Ad

A Winner!CALL:

1-877-223-3311To Place Your

Ad Now!

1-877-223-3311CLASSIFIEDS

Box 310 Stettler, AB. 4810-50 St. Stettler, AB T0C 2I0 FAX: 403-742-8050 EMAIL: classifi eds@stettlerindependent.com

REACH OVER 217,000 READERS With one of these great deals!

Announcements What’s Happening50-70

Employment700-920

Services Directory1010-1430

Items Buy/Sell150-194

Agriculture2010-2210

Rental & Real Estate3000-4310

Vehicles5010-5240

Public Notice6010

6 PACK 8 PACK ADPACK ALL IN 1

CALL TOLL FREE:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 THE WEEKENDER 7

Ways of helping young drivers staysafe on the road

Teenagers typically anticipate the moment they receive their drivers’ licenses, feeling their personal freedom increases dramatically in such moments.

While drivers’ licenses may be liberating for teen drivers, parents may be considerably less excited when their chil-dren pass their drivers’ tests. Driving is a big responsibili-ty and one that requires both concentration and maturity. Seemingly innocent things can turn pleasurable car rides into accidents.

Although driving education programs, testing and practice behind the wheel are required before kids can receive their drivers’ licenses, it takes more than classes, tests and lim-ited practice for teens to be-come competent drivers. The National Center for Health Statistics says motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds. Statistics show that teen death rates increase with each additional passenger. Plus, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 53 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths among teenagers in 2012, the most recent year for data collection, occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday be-tween the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight.

Considering one in five 16-year-old drivers has an ac-cident within their first year of

driving, according to statistics compiled by DoSomething.org, teen drivers may need more supervision and instruction. The following are some risks on the road to consider when educating teens.

• All calls are risky. Turn off

phones when in the car. The National Safety Council says more than 30 studies show hands-free devices are no safer because the brain remains dis-tracted by the conversation. When talking on a cell phone, drivers can miss seeing up to

half of their surroundings, in-cluding traffic lights, stop signs and pedestrians. Younger, less experienced drivers may be even more distracted by phone calls.

• Slow down. Crash risks for teens increase incrementally

with each mile per hour over the speed limit. Speeding re-duces drivers’ ability to avoid an accident, and new drivers may not be as capable of avoid-ing obstacles that come into their paths.

• Go sparingly on passen-gers. The risk for automobile accidents increases with each additional passengers teens have in their cars. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found the risk increases 44 percent with one passenger, doubles with two passengers and quadruples with three or more passengers. Friends in the backseat can prove very distracting or may even en-courage young drivers to en-gage in risky behaviors.

• Avoid other distractions. In addition to phones and too many passengers, teens are distracted by looking things in their own vehicle. For example, singing and dancing to music can distract teens’ attention from the road. In addition, some teens may tend to per-sonal grooming when behind the wheel, further taking their attention away from the road.

Getting a driver’s license is a milestone event in the lives of teenagers, but one they should not take for granted. Good driv-ers are not born, but developed through practice, avoiding dis-tractions and adhering to the rules and regulations that gov-ern the roads.

How to get the most bang for your automotive buckAutomobiles are more

expensive than ever be-fore. According to auto researcher Kelley Blue Book, the average trans-action price of a new car or truck sold in the United States in April of 2015 was $33,560. That fi gure, which represents a nearly 3 percent increase from the average transaction price a year earlier, high-lights just how expensive new cars have become. Because cars and trucks are such signifi cant in-vestments, many drivers want to get the most bang for their automotive buck. While that desire compels some drivers to purchase the most fuel-effi cient ve-hicle they can afford, mo-torists should know that fuel effi ciency is not the only way they can secure the best returns on their automotive investments.Maintenance

Adhering to manufac-turer maintenance guide-

lines is perhaps the most effective way for drivers to ensure a great return on their automotive in-vestments. Routine main-tenance, whether it’s changing oil at the recom-mended mileage intervals or keeping tires properly infl ated so engines aren’t overtaxed, can add years to a vehicle’s life expec-tancy, stretching drivers’ dollars along the way.Technology

Many drivers purchase a car or truck and never give a second thought to the vehicle’s lights. But there’s a great disparity between standard manufactur-er-installed lights and aftermarket lights that employ the latest technol-ogy, such as Philips Vision LEDs. With LEDs, vehicle owners are less likely to lose a light to burnout or failure, which can effect visibility and potential-ly result in a police cita-tion. Unlike incandescent

bulbs that will eventual-ly fade and go dim, LEDs stay bright at the same intensity, so drivers can be confi dent and rely on their consistent perfor-mance. Vision LEDs are new, innovative bulbs that are available for direct re-placement on interior and exterior lights and feature an advanced design capa-ble of handling extreme heat and high vibrations. Because of their robust design and durability, Vision LEDs are backed by a 12-year limited warran-ty, providing drivers with more than a decades’ worth of return on their initial investments. And, unlike standard incandes-cent lights in brake light applications, Vision LEDs turn on instantly, help-ing drivers react faster. A faster light response can help reduce overall brak-ing distance. For example, at a speed of 75 mph, a driver can reduce braking

distance by up to 20 feet because of a quicker re-action to the brake lights.Styling upgrades

Because they are often personalized, automotive style upgrades are rare-ly associated with great returns. But some style upgrades are wiser invest-ments than others. For ex-

ample, Philips Vision LEDs mimic the popular light-ing style used by many of today’s high-end luxu-ry vehicle manufacturers, enabling drivers to give their vehicles the same high tech, top-of-the-line look offered by luxury brands without saddling them with the higher costs

of owning such vehicles. The Vision LEDs are avail-able to replace brake and taillights as well as back-up, dome, glove compart-ment, side markers, trunk, and license plate lights, allowing drivers to make stylish upgrades that are backed by a limited 12-year warranty.

8 THE WEEKENDER FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Exercise and arthritisArthritis Foundation says

the number patients suffer-ing from the ailment will rise by about 30 per cent by the year 2030.

Simply put, arthritis is a signifi cant problem, one that can not only affect a person’s quality of life, but also his or her pocketbook, as the Arthritis Foundation notes that woking-age men and women (those between the ages of 18 and 64) who contend with arthritis are less likely to be employed than people of the same age who do not have arthritis. Arthritis is not only bad for employees, but also for em-ployers, as it accounts for billions of dollars annually in lost wages and medical expenses.

Exercise may be the last thing on many arthritis sufferers’ minds, but exer-cise can play a vital role in reducing the often pain-ful symptoms associat-ed with arthritis. Among its other benefi ts, exercise can strengthen the mus-cles around arthritic joints and help men and women maintain bone strength. In addition, the Mayo Clinic notes that lack of exercise can make joints feel more painful and stiff, as a seden-tary lifestyle will ultimately contribute to putting more stress on joints.

Upon being diagnosed with arthritis, patients should speak with their phy-sicians about the best way to use exercise to combat and relieve their symptoms. Some patients may require physical therapy, while oth-ers might be able to work with their physicians to de-velop an exercise regimen that can help reduce the severity of their symptoms and any pain that accompa-nies those symptoms. The following are some types of exercises that fi gure to play a strong role in manag-ing arthritis and improving quality of life.

• Aerobic exercises: Low-impact aerobic exercises, such as walking and swim-ming, can help arthritis suf-ferers alleviate their symp-toms and improve their overall health. Arthritis suf-ferers who have not exer-cised in awhile because of their pain may have gained weight as a result, and aer-obic exercise is a great way to shed extra pounds. Losing excess weight is a great way to make physical activity less taxing on your joints as well.

• Range-of-motion: Range-of-motion exercises are typ-ically simple and don’t take much time, but when done correctly, such exercises can be very effective at reliev-

ing the stiffness associated with arthritis. A physician or physical therapist might advise you to do range-of-motion exercises each day, and you may even need to do them a few times each

day. Adhere to this advice, continuing to perform the exercises as long as your doctor or physical therapists deems them necessary.

• Strength training: As previously noted, arthri-

tis sufferers may feel as though lifting weights will only exacerbate their exist-ing symptoms. But strength training will strengthen the muscles around the joints, providing more support for

those joints and ultimately reducing symptoms of pain. Speak with your physician or physical therapist about appropriate strength-train-ing activities and the im-portance of rest. If you ex-

perience any pain during strength-training sessions, stop immediately and report the pain to your physician.

More information about managing arthritis can be found at www.arthritis.org.

The Business of CattleDEADLINE:

JANUARY 16Distributed last week of January

Showcase livestock and accessories across ruralAlberta in the 2016 breeder’s supplement

Distribution of over 33,600 homes (over 82,500 readers)

SUPPLEMENT TO:

Bashaw StarBashaw Star

1⁄2 PAGE ....... $5151⁄4 PAGE ....... $2763 COL. X 4” ... $1742 COL. X 5” ... $1422 COL. X 3” ... $110

All pricesinclude colour

rural only*

Call Kami at 403-742-2395

rural only*

Call Kami at 403-742-2395sales1@stettlerindependent.com

TheCastor Advance

DEADLINE:JANUARY 15Distributed last

week of January

weekenderRegional